Covering Dunfermline
Alongside Dunfermline, we also cover Linlithgow (9 miles to the south-west), Kinross and Grangemouth.
Homes in Fife
In Scotland many families extend bungalows and semis, while tenement flats bring shared ownership of roofs and walls that needs agreeing early.
What do you get with a side return extension?
A side return extension builds over the narrow passage that runs beside the back of many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, widening the kitchen or dining room by a metre or two. It is usually combined with a glazed or part-glazed roof so the deeper room still gets daylight.
- Building warrant application and completion certificate
- Structural steel to remove the side wall
- Plastering and making good to the old house
How much should I budget for a side return extension?
What side return extensions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| Side return extensions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard specification | £3,350 to £3,700 per m² |
| Good specification | £3,700 to £4,150 per m² |
| High specification | £4,150 to £4,550 per m² |
How is a side return extension approved in Dunfermline?
Projects in Scotland need a building warrant from the council before any building work starts, and a completion certificate once it is finished. Planning permission is a separate decision. The Party Wall etc. Act does not apply in Scotland; shared walls are governed by title deeds and the law of the tenement where relevant.
Scotland has its own householder permitted development rules, and small single-storey rear extensions are often covered.
What can affect a side return extension?
- Glazed roofs need careful detailing against the neighbour’s wall.
- Many terraces sit in conservation areas, where side extensions need planning permission.
What happens after I enquire?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
What people ask before starting
How much does a side return extension cost?
Usually about £3,350 to £4,550 per square metre including VAT, which works out at around £35,000 to £55,000 for a typical side return before the kitchen.
Is a glazed roof too hot in summer?
Modern solar-control glass and a mix of glazed and solid roof keep it comfortable. We advise on the balance during design.
Can you visit a house in Dunfermline to quote?
Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.
Side return extensions in nearby towns
- Side return extensions in Linlithgow
- Side return extensions in Kinross
- Side return extensions in Grangemouth
- Side return extensions in Livingston
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Dunfermline.

